THE “CONDER” TOKEN
COLLECTOR’S JOURNAL
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONDER TOKEN COLLECTOR’S CLUB
Volume XV Number 2_ Fall, 2010 Consecutive Issue #56
Burntisland Vitriol Company
The Story Behind the Token
BILL McKIVOR—CTCC #3. |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume XV Number 2
President’s Message
Introduction
Story Behind the Token
A Short History of the Burtisland
Vitriol Company (D&H Fifeshire 2)
Is Now the Time for a
Token Pricing Guide?
Countermarked Irish Coinage -
A Significant Sampling
Six New Varieties of Camac Tokens
and a Few Corrections
A Curmudgeon’s Copy of
Conder’s Arrangement
Directory of Club Officers
The Token Exchange and Mart
Fall 2010
Consecutive Issue #56
Larry Gaye Page 4
Harold Welch Page 5
John H. Harris Page 6
Paul Withers
Allan Davisson
Gregg A. Silvis
Harold Welch
President’s Message:
I hope this edition finds you all in good health and still collecting tokens. I have just returned
from the American Numismatic Association (ANA) annual convention held in Boston,
Massachusetts. It was an excellent venue with much to see including numismatic exhibits from
the Smithsonian collection accompanied by our old friend and President Mr. Richard Doty. The
ANA supplied some wonderful material from its collection and “The Ship of Gold” exhibit made
a return visit. As some of you may know “The Ship of Gold” was the SS Central America which
sunk in a hurricane on the east coast of the United States and caused a panic/ depression in 1857.
It carried a huge cargo of gold in the form of coin and ingots from the gold fields of California; a
small portion of which makes up the display.
At the regular annual meeting of the CTCC at the convention I announced that Jerry Bobbe
resigned as editor. Mr. Harold Welch will take over temporarily the reigns of the Journal. At
the meeting Scott Loos, our treasurer informed me that another member has come forward to
suggest that he might be able to take over the editorship though he has not confirmed as of this
writing. Don’t worry we will work him over till he submits.
Now a bit of very good news; our club member and legal counsel Mr. Ron Sirna announced at
the meeting that the ANA has invited the CTCC to have our next British American Token
Congress at the next annual convention to be held in Chicago in 2011. This would be an
exceptional opportunity to tie into the hotel room discounts the ANA negotiates, the use of their
meeting rooms at no cost to us as well as all audio/visual tools necessary for those meetings.
The convention is held near the Chicago O’Hare International Airport at the Rosemont
convention facility which makes it ideal for international attendees many of whom are quite
familiar with this location. Ron is the legal counsel for the ANA an organization of some thirty-
five thousand members. The ANA convention is the most important numismatic event in the US
each year with dealers and mints from all over the world in attendance. What an opportunity to
discuss our passion with other members of the community, and oh yes, to acquire more goodies.
I will have more info on this as Ron is able to supply. As you can imagine, this will require a lot
of work to make this opportunity a reality.
That’s about it for now; I have some tokens I picked up at the convention to play with, cheers.
Larry Gaye
Introduction
It’s funny how things come full circle. After serving as editor for several years, I was lucky
enough to be able to turn the job over to Michael Grogan. As you all know Mike did a
wonderful job. Unfortunately, health issues forced him to step down. Jerry Bobbe was generous
enough to take up the mantle and produced some excellent issues. An unfortunate conflict
involving a rejected letter to the editor led to Jerry making the decision to step down. I think all
of the membership is grateful to Jerry for his service and I hope he will continue to contribute in
other ways in the future. The executive board has voted to institute a process to review rejected
submissions in the future and to extend the club’s apologies for any offence given to the letter’s
author. In the meant time, I have been roped into —oops- I mean given the opportunity to
temporarily serve as editor once again. Actually the editor’s job is very rewarding and I have
been proud to contribute to several issues of our fine club journal.
Unfortunately, this issue has been delayed largely due to confusion on my part. The technology
of the journal has changed quite a bit from my old cut and paste days. I think that I am about up
to speed finally and I will certainly provide all the help that I can to our next editor. This issue is
so late that it seems that the ship has already sailed on Summer 2010, so this issue is Fall 2010.
Hopefully, we can make up for the Summer issue somewhere along the way.
Despite everything, we are lucky enough to have some very interesting and informative articles
in this issue. Gregg Silvis continues his series on the Camac tokens. One has to have the eye of
an eagle and patience of a saint to make sense of the Camac tokens. Clearly Gregg is blessed
with both qualities. In our featured cover article John Harris explores the story of the
Burntisland Vitriol Company tokens. The ability to tangibly bring otherwise forgotten history to
life is my favorite thing about Conder tokens. John does a great job in bringing the industry, the
company and its people alive. The discussion regarding price, grading, etc. is continued by Paul
Withers. Paul is a highly respected numismatist and author of many fine numismatic books and
has provided us with a most interesting article from the British point of view. Lastly, we take a
look at countermarks, a small but especially interesting subset of the many ways to collect and
study tokens. Allan Davisson has provided an article about Irish countermarks. At first I
thought perhaps we might be wondering a bit far afield from “Conder” tokens, as these mostly
appear on coins (though a few are on tokens). However, it strikes me that people countermarked
whatever they got their hands on. Many of these and many other countermarks surely appear on
Conders. It would be very interesting if any members who possess such countermarked tokens
would submit a description and photo to the journal. And finally, just for good measure, I delve
into another little backwater of token collecting — the classic token literature and the lively
personalities from the past who collected our beloved little metal disks!
So there you have it. A brief hiccup in our schedule, but the journal marches on. I hope that you
enjoy it!
Harold Welch
Story Behind the Token — A Short History of the
Burntisland Vitriol Company
(D&H Fifeshire 2)
By John H Harris
Fifeshire 2
photo courtesy of Dr. Gary Sriro
The Burntisland Vitriol Company (BVCo) was one of Scotland’s earliest chemical works. It
was located on the edge of the Fife coastal town, perched on a rocky promontory overlooking
the wide expanse of the Firth of Forth and the outline of Edinburgh and its hills in the
distance. The works would probably have been one of the first things in view when crossing
the river by the established ferry route from Edinburgh’s port of Leith to Burntisland in the
late 1790s. Its principal product was sulphuric acid, more commonly known then as ‘oil of
vitriol’.
The technology for the production of sulphuric acid had been brought into Scotland by Dr
John Roebuck and Samuel Garbett at their works in Prestonpans eight miles east of
Edinburgh around 1749. This is the Mr Garbett whose bust is portrayed on the Birmingham,
Warwickshire token D&H 125-7. The Burntisland works would have used the same process,
which in simple terms was undertaken by burning or roasting imported brimstone (sulphur)
in the presence of water and a small quantity of nitre (potassium nitrate). The product was
corrosive to most materials so the process took place in large lead sheeted chambers
supported by a wooden frame. The acid when it had reached the desired concentration was
then made ready for the market by pouring it into large green glass bottles (carboys), one of
which is depicted on the obverse of the BVCo token. Each carboy would have been protected
from damage in transit by being encased in a wicker basket made from coppiced willow.
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illustrations courtesy of Burntisland.net
At top is Ainslie's map of c1775/76. The bottom map is dated 1812.
The location at Burntisland was well chosen since the works were close to a pier and a sandy
beach where coal and other raw materials could be shipped in and the product loaded back
onto boats bound for other Scottish and English east coast ports or even transported to the
continental ports of Holland and the Low Countries. The town also had a deep sheltered
harbour. Transport by water would have been preferred since shipment of the glass carboys
by land would be slow and potentially dangerous because of the state of the roads at that
time. Transport by cart would have taken place, but probably just to serve the local markets
of inland Fife. The network of rail transportation was still a generation away.
The origin of the company is contained in an entry of the Burntisland Town Council minutes
dated 7'" December 1784 when the Council were informed that ‘a Gentleman from Leith had
applied ...and proposed to take a lease of that part of the Townlands called Lamberlaws for
the purpose of erecting some works...,which would be of great utility to the Towns Revenue
and also to the whole Inhabitants of the Borough’. The Council agreed that the proposal
would be of ‘great public advantage’ and wished to bring the ‘affair to a speedy conclusion’.
Consequently, in spring of the following year (1785) contracts were concluded between the
Council and Mr David Muir, Merchant in Leith.
The Town Council records show a number of disputes took place between Mr Muir and the
Council over the building of his works and its boundary walls, and in November 1787 the
Council rejected a petition which had been signed ‘by several Inhabitants of the Burgh
relative to Mr Muirs process’. Clearly, not everyone was happy with Mr Muirs works, and in
the absence of the actual petition it has to be assumed that the works were giving rise to some
form of nuisance, perhaps in the form of air or water pollution. The town’s treasurer’s
accounts also refer to difficulties in obtaining the £26 feu duty from Muir, and from around
1789 a Mr Pitcairn then takes over this annual payment.
After David Muirs death, his son and only heir William sold the land and works in July 1794
to a partnership of four businessmen described as Alexander and John Pitcairn, merchants in
Edinburgh; Robert Pitcairn, writer in Edinburgh; and David Low, formerly merchant in
Dundee. Alexander Pitcairn is referred to as acting partner of the works in the council
records, and there is mention of expansion to the site in terms of new buildings and obtaining
adjacent land in 1796 & 1797. The business partnership with Mr Low probably stems from
the fact that Alex. Pitcairn had married his daughter Miss Elizabeth Low in January 1787.
After the death of his first wife (aged only 28 years) in 1793, he then went on to marry the
sister of John Pitcairn’s wife, Miss Jean (or Jane) Trotter in July 1795.
There is no mention of the BVCo token in the burgh records, but the councillors may have
had other things on their minds. In February 1797 it was proposed ‘that as the French were
making great preparations for the Invasion of this Country it would be necessary to conform
to the practice in the neighbouring Burghs, - a defensive Corps of volunteers should be
formed in this Town for its protection......’ . This idea for a late 18" Century Home Guard
was approved and in February 1798 there is noted a list of names subscribing to the ‘Defence
of the Country’. Top of the list is a donation of £20 from Alexr Pitcairn for B’Island Vitriol
Co.
Alexander Pitcairn appears to have become more involved in local politics and in June 1800
he was elected as the Councils assessor to The Convention of Scottish Royal Burghs. Pitcairn
was at this time described as ‘one of the partners of and manager of the Burntisland Vitriol
Company’. In September of the same year he was chosen to be a Councillor. In September
1802 Provost Beatson resigned his office, and proposed Pitcairn to be his successor, to which
the other councillors ‘unanimously Elected and made choice of Alexander Pitcairn Esquire to
be Provost of this Burgh...’ Pitcair must have been popular in his early years of being
Provost because in November 1805 he was presented with a specially commissioned gold
chain of office, for amongst other things ‘bringing in water to the town...and in erecting a
new and elegant schoolhouse as well as giving countenance to every thing that promotes the
interest and improvement of the place’. Some months earlier in May 1805 Alexander Pitcairn
had also became the sole owner of the vitriol works when the other three partners sold their
interests in it to him.
Pitcairn’s business interests at this time were split between his home in Edinburgh where he
carried on trade as both a merchant and an insurance broker, and his home at Vitriolbank,
Burntisland where as well as being Provost he still controlled the vitriol works and owned a
number of properties in the town. He was re-elected as Provost on an annual basis until his
resignation of the post on 22 September 1813. In June 1817, the Council agreed to sell the
Provosts gold chain and medal of office to the highest price they could procure. It was noted
that the ‘Finances of the Town are in a low state’.
Alexander Pitcairn died at his home in Duke
Street, Edinburgh on 18" April 1819, aged 72
years. He lies buried along with his two wives
and at least five of his children just a short walk
from the busy shopping thoroughfare of Princes
Street, Edinburgh. His vitriol works seems to
have been wound up shortly after his death since
it is not mentioned on the town plan of 1824, the
area now referred to as the ‘Lamber Laws the
Property of Wm Trotter Esq., of Ballindean’. A
previous map of around 1812 refers to ‘Mr
Pitcairn’s Grounds’ and has a large square
shaped building referred to as the ‘Vitriol
Works’. The Rev. David Couper of Burntisland
writing in the Statistical Account for Scotland,
1836 remarks that ‘The vitriol work., which was
PERCU Uta saapge sb
fied “hud January fl
auisd px
JANG TROT TE his
[Dred {At Novi L5G
Awed.iG \ oars.
in operation when the last Statistical Account 2 Ach
was written, has been long suspended, and the EX ANDEIt PITCA
premises have been converted into cottages for Died 1°. Apatite, #
the summer visitors’. Other reasons for the works #} need 72
demise are probably associated with shortages of | | oe
sulphur and nitre during the Napoleonic wars due a
to shipping blockades and the importance of xe
noA
these raw materials in gunpowder production. Increasing competition from larger, more
integrated chemical works in Glasgow and south of the border would also not have helped.
The token that Pitcairn and his partners produced in 1797 is unusual in that it’s probably the
only one of the conder series issued by the infant chemical industry. Most trade tokens of the
industrial revolution period relate to the textile, iron production or metal working industries
along with transport, commerce and politics of the day. However, the Burntisland halfpenny
does have strong links with the textile and linen related tokens produced in nearby Perthshire
and further north across the River Tay in Dundee and Angus. The link is in the use of
Burntisland produced acid in the bleaching process of linen yarn and cloth in Fife, Perth and
Tayside.
In the 18" Century the most common method of bleaching linen and cotton fabrics was to
boil or wash them in a weak alkaline solution composed of wood ash or stale urine then treat
with a weak acid such as buttermilk or sour milk. The fabric was then rinsed with water and
rolled out on to bleaching fields for several months to whiten in the sun. The material was
normally kept wet by watering can as depicted on the reverse of the 1798 Perth farthing
(Perthshire D&H 11). In the mid 1700s it was found that the process could be speeded up if a
solution of sulphuric acid (vitriol) was used instead of buttermilk. Vitriol was therefore an
essential bleaching material in Scotland until chlorine in the form of bleaching powder was
introduced in the early 1800s.
The author has examined about 20 different examples of the token over the last 5 years and
found that they were all of the D&H 2 variety with edge grained ///// and with a die axis of
TL. All the coins appear to have been struck from a single pair of dies. Some coins appear to
exhibit weak strikes but this may also be due to die wear. The author would welcome views
on this from other collectors. On closer examination this manifests itself on the obverse
where the top of the V in BVCo is more flattened and on the reverse the top of the A in —
ISLAND becomes less distinct. The 4 holes in the belt (or garter) at the bottom also appear to
disappear in these examples. The majority of the coins have seen a fair bit of circulation and
are normally in VF condition at best. It’s rare to find one in EF condition or better.
In closing, the author would like to know the following:
o Does anyone have examples of the token in another metal other than copper? For
example, have any been struck in silver or white metal?
o Do D&H 2a or 2b really exist or have the edges of some tokens been tampered with
in the past?
o Has anyone seen, or does anyone own, an example of D&H 3 where Vitriol is spelt as
Vitorial or does this indeed just stem from a typographical error in Conders original
work?
He can be contacted at: drjohn.harris@btinternet.com
Acknowledgements — This short account stems from a fair amount of research and detective
work, and the author wishes to thank the staff of Fife Council’s Archive Centre, Markinch
and also the staff of the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh for access to the main
manuscript sources used in its production. Special mentions also go to Bill McKivor and
David Stuart for selling me examples of the token.
Main References -
© Burntisland Town Council Treasurer’s Account Book, 1764 to 1839 (B/BL 2/1/1)
o Burntisland Town Council Minutes 1780 to 1845 (B9/12/19, 20 & 21)
o Burntisland Burgh Register of Sasines, volumes 14 & 15 (B9/2/5 & 6)
General background reading — ‘The Chemical Revolution’ by A & NL Clow, Batchworth
Press, London, 1952 (Reprinted by Gordon & Breach, Philadelphia, 1992; and also now on
Google books)
Glossary —
© Feu duty — in Scots Law this was related to the right to the use of land in return for a
fixed annual payment.
© Provost - the chief magistrate or convener of a burgh council, similar to a mayor in
England.
A Curmudgeon’s Copy of Conder’s Arrangement
continued from page 31
I am planning to make a trip this fall to complete my research on the British token literature. I
have included a request in the journal’s free ads for some time requesting members who own
pre-World War II token literature to contact me so that I might include their volumes in my
listings. If you haven’t noticed the ad or just haven’t gotten around to contacting me, PLEASE
DO. This work has been drawn out for much too long, but after my trip to England, I hope to put
on a big push and finally wrap it up. I really want to be as complete as possible, but I need your
help!
Harold Welch
tokenmann@aol.com
(651) 429-0997
IS NOW THE TIME FOR A TOKEN PRICING GUIDE?
A year ago we put this question to various people, and the answer we got was a resounding “yes!”
Dealers tell us that new people are coming to the hobby and need guidance and literature to help
them find their way. They want a book of their time and not one that is 25 years old. The same
is true for those who are considering selling, and also those who want to add to their collections,
but have not quite kept pace with what is going on.
We began to plan, and as a healthy, active segment of the market is located in the USA, we
discussed the project with Allan Davisson, who is part of that market, and has a high reputation
among dealers here in the UK. It was his question that began this controversy in these columns.
He rightly states that B A Seaby published British Tokens and the Values in 1970. It was
popular with collectors and dealers alike, indeed, a lot of people are still using it! The book was
reprinted with revisions in 1984. Around the same time, Fred Schwer printed his Price Guide to
18th Century Tokens, and a year later, Michael Dickinson produced his excellent Seventeenth
Century Tokens of the British Isles. Since then, although inflation has been rampant and the
market has grown and matured, there has been nothing more of a similar nature published; so, a
quarter of a century on, demand for an up-to-date price guide is quite legitimate given that some
of the books are now only obtainable secondhand, and that prices have increased due to demand,
and inflation. As numismatic book dealers we get a many requests for the old works whenever
we have them for sale, and the 1984 revision of British Tokens and their Values sells on e-bay
for around £45 ($70).
What is needed in such a new work? Clearly, it needs to reflect the market as closely as
possible, not just for what you in the US call “Conders,” but for British tokens of the 17th, and
19th centuries too, and ‘evasions.’ What we are producing is not just a book for collectors in the
USA — yes, we want that — and much, much more besides. If you don’t feel that such a work is
necessary, you don’t have to buy it, but please don’t try to stifle demand from all over the world
because of your personal prejudices, we are currently getting requests for it from as far away as
Magnetic Island.
We decided to use the opportunity to correct errors in previous works, and also in some of the
original standard reference works, where attributions have been revised when research has
shown this to be necessary.
We have, however, left some things undone — though we would like to point them out - the 18th
century tokens of Ireland is something that an enthusiast needs to take on board and take a fresh
look at. Judging by the last few editions of “Conder” someone clearly has started — though my
intuition and experience says that a lot more work needs to be done, not only on the tokens of
Ireland, but for Anglesey too.
The last quarter century or so has been a remarkable period for token collectors. There has been
a great increase in interest in 18th century tokens and in the number of collectors. It probably
started with Spink selling the collection of T A Jan in 1983 and 1984. When R C Bell’s
collection was sold by DNW in 1996, 18th century tokens were beginning to look up, but 19th
century copper tokens were in the doldrums and we bought most of what we wanted with little
12
opposition. In 1998, Jim Noble sold his collection of tokens and paranumismatica. The
catalogue was a real blockbuster which brought to an international market a critical mass of
material which had not been seen for a quarter of a century or more, some of it with pedigrees
going back to those doyens of the token world S H Hamer and W J Davis, and other famous
names.
In 2000, the new century started with a metaphorical bang, when Allan Davisson brought Wayne
Anderson’s collection to the market, setting many price records, largely because the material was
choice.
Since then DNW have offered the collections of Joel Spingarn, David Litrenta and David
Spence, the last two of which required no fewer than three catalogues each.
In the last year or so, prices for general 18th century material seem to have fallen a little from the
heights they were achieving two years before, though rarer and choice material has continued to
rise in price due to demand. Over the past two years prices for 19th century copper tokens in
high grade, especially those with lustre, have risen sharply too, but that market is by no means as
sophisticated as that for 18th century tokens.
Spectacular prices for choice material are one thing, but the lower end of the market is strong
too, with badly worn and damaged items making prices in internet auctions that sometimes make
one gasp and stretch one’s eyes. Unaware, non-discriminating buyers clearly do not realise that
much better buys are available elsewhere! This does, however, set the scene for the lower end,
and it is part of the market, albeit one that most established dealers will not reach largely because
many of its denizens keep out of the light.
For the last six months we have expended several thousands of hours compiling the book, and
apart from fine tuning it is now more or less ready for the press. In the words of the computer-
savvy generation, the Beta versions are just about to go out.
The neophyte probably wonders exactly how one values a coin or token. I certainly did when I
was young. If you are an expert, and in practice, you look at the piece and put a price on your
ticket. If you are not, then you have to resort to a guide, especially if you are a new collector
who wants to find out what he should pay at auction, or whether the price being asked by a
dealer is a bargain, or a rip-off.
A true price is said to be that arrived at after bargaining between a knowledgeable buyer and an
informed seller. How often that actually happens is debatable, but what is certain is that there
are trends which become evident when observing the market closely over a period of a decade,
or longer.
Punters at race courses assessing a horse’s likelihood of winning examine ‘form’, 1.e., how the
nag did the last time out, though other matters also have to be taken into condition — the skill of
the jockey riding it, whether the going is hard or soft, the trainer, the course, the weather, the
opposition and whether the leprechauns are with you that day, or not. The market in tokens is a
bit like that, it is essential to know how pieces of the same type performed the last time they
came up for auction and prices are based on that sort of information.
13
The prices we derived are from auction results, dealers’ offerings, and our experience. We have
observed, assiduously, auction results of the last ten years and more. We have assessed, wherever
possible, the rarity, and precise condition, which is not easy considering that some dealers can be
mildly mendacious and unduly hype what they are selling. We have accordingly recorded pieces
only where illustrations were available to us, and/or where we knew the standards of the
cataloguer.
The market for 18th tokens is not one theatre of action. There are those customers (mainly in the
USA) who want perfection, and those in the UK who are satisfied with extremely fine pieces,
who frankly do not care overly much whether their piece has lustre or not. Then there are those
who frequent coin fairs but who are happy with pieces in VF condition and have never seen an
auction of choice and rare material, and then there are those who buy solely from on-line
auctions and only see a bright, shiny red colour when the piece they are buying has been pickled
in battery acid. Add to that people who buy tokens because they are interesting, historical relics,
and even then you don’t have the complete picture, but someone entering this world needs a
price guide to help them. I know that I did, and still do, and I have been a dealer now for coming
up to 50 years.
Now to address some particular questions: What does “EF” mean? You have to understand, that
in the past, when only English gentlemen collected, nice coins that were slightly less than FDC,
i.e., absolutely perfect, were Extremely Fine. So, items that were not perfect were described as
“EF.” Of course, there are those who were unable to differentiate, or those who wished to obtain
a higher price by over-grading. Auction houses, though, traditionally at arm’s length from the
trade, graded conservatively so that things would not be returned by customers. It does,
however, leave us with the big gap between FDC and EF in terms of price.
So, do you have to learn to grade to the last percentage point before using a pricing guide? The
answer is categorically ‘NO!’ In the case of 18th century tokens we price for three grades —
Fine, Very Fine and Extremely Fine, with a foray into the world of UNC once in a while, where
a cataloguer has expressed such an opinion — and we have (with 50 years of cynical experience),
believed him. It is only rarely that a coin is a pure, exact “EF;” usually there are tiny
modifications necessary to the grade, more or less lustre, a patch of weakness due to an uneven
strike, an edge nick or knock, you will have to add or subtract something to cover for this. You
will soon learn.
Of course, it is necessary to read and understand the grading section before using this, or indeed
any other catalogue, particularly for collectors in the USA, as the grading employed in the UK by
the major auction firms is different from that used in the grading of US coins. You have to read
the instructions before you do anything these days. We have tried to obviate any problems by
stating very clearly the standards we have used, assuming that those who are reading this will
probably have come to ‘Conders’ after some involvement with US coins.
Collectors should be aware that there is a highly specialized US market for these pieces and that
prices are very dependent on the amount of original lustre (US “red colour’’) present. This will
undoubtedly account for some of the high-seeming prices recorded, for many choice pieces with
a century-long pedigree have been sold in the last twenty years, and it is these pieces that have
set the standard. Most pieces rated as EF in these top sales of choice material have had 30%, or
14
more, original red colour, and that is our benchmark for EF. Toned examples (obviously) make
somewhat less, and truly uncirculated examples, particularly with full lustre, may make
considerably more. As to exactly how much those are worth, only the rich cognoscenti decide.
You will know exactly how much when you have had 25 years of experience!
Our standards have been set as follows:
EF = Extremely Fine. This means a coin with only the slightest trace of wear and on close
examination it may have very slight surface marks. This is equivalent to a US grading of
Choice AU-55. Prices are set for coins with about 30% of original red lustre.
VF = Very Fine. Only slight traces of wear on the high points of the design; a coin that has had
only slight circulation. This is equivalent to a US grading of EF-40. We expect VF coins to
have perhaps 10% of original red colour.
F = Fine. Considerable signs of wear on the raised surfaces. A coin in this state is, however,
still a FINE example, it is not badly worn. This is equivalent to US VF-20.
fair = fr. A coin that is worn, or weakly struck, but which has the inscriptions and main features
of the types (design) still distinguishable. US VG-8
The following terms may be used when describing 17th century tokens:
med. = mediocre. Heavily worn, with the design visible, but faint in areas. Many details are flat.
Equivalent to US Good G-4
Poor. A very worn coin. Although heavily worn with portions of legend, or design missing, this
is a piece that is still identifiable. Equivalent to US Abt Good-3.
As to refinements, they come with the collector’s own experience, as only you can decide
exactly how much you personally like a piece and how much you want to pay to own it. Clearly,
you cannot become an expert overnight, but this is about having fun, we don’t all compete to
Olympic standard, where 1/100 of a second makes the difference between winning and losing.
The majority of pieces in my own collection of 19th century copper tokens are in VF condition,
or less, because that is as good as you will get for many of them. But, in any case, along with
most others, I am not seeking perfection. For me, most of the fun of collecting is not in
possessing the ultimate specimen, but from the intellectual joy of research — and I try to give that
back to collectors by passing that information on to the world at large.
So forget the slabbers and the elitists, our new price guide is a book to help the collector to know
where he is, a road map of an enormous continent, to show where the fun is. It will give you a
price without you having to spend hundreds of hours trawling through world auctions to find out
what price your token made the last time it came up for sale. It puts the collector in charge of his
own destiny by telling him how much he is likely to have to pay for the nice, the very nice or the
extremely nice piece he wants, and if he wants a diamond-sharp, bright red piece of perfection
there are sufficient examples of similar items to warn him what that’s likely to cost too.
Paul Withers
COUNTERMARKED IRISH COINAGE, A SIGNIFICANT SAMPLING
The hewory of countermarked ooins is as odd as the hisgory of coinage. The Gerocks did it The Romans dad ct And counmres and busancsses and indi-
widuais have been deang itsance. There 6 scidom any central contral over countermartang and che rouse Soe the practice range from revaluapon co
achhvrosing 07 dlocning che pean authorig te vanity or to any of sevetal ether powwbke reasons. AD cffores at providing dcfinitive caralogs of councor
marked Gans of any series have to deal wach dis lack ofeontrel aver who cin put 4 countermark on 2 coin and all of che reftrenees. despre dedicaced
and vompecrent cfhorts oo ower rt all are always opan ended dors when: more marcrial is bound po shew up.
For the wolleceor. this can be challnging. But if collecting something thar can rypularty inchade new dewovcrics while sckdom having co spend signifi-
cunt sums is appealing, countermarked rokens arc u fascinadng byway. Collcerors commined te che 1th ecncury Dileon and J Tamer scrics are gener
adly faruiar with the countormarkod tokers of Thomas Spenec. Dc had a vanity of mocos supporting his poliocal vicws thar he counsormarked on
al kinds ofookens and cven ouins of his cr [lis concem was geting his mensape out and cuunacemarking other poogic’s work was no mocc rcmark-
ablc chan his practice of flinging his cokens out of his offee window so that pawscrsby would pick them up and gee he messarc.
The history of 8th and igch concury Briish ovkens is noc complete without looking at this practice. J. Gavin Scort published Brash Countormarks
on Gupper & Boater Covns on tyc3 listing hundreds and Slowing up in the 180 edition of che Berth Nurmsntate Journal with a supplemennal list-
ing. Uhs book os self the standard reference for dhesc ewaies even chough new types and varictics show up repuarty.
Emil Szaucy, one of Irdand’s most onin dealers, firsts published his work on countermarked [rish mkens in the U.S. publication, Works Comms, in a se-
rics of aructcs bagenning in January igty and ending (wth breabes) in October 1957. [ead Numismabos republished the information beginning: in May
igns. After his pubbeation efforn be candnued we aoquirc councermuarked pdecns with an [nish basis. Many of chose pices crcdod up in the Jim Noble
collection that was sold in Xfibourne in the lave ngyos, The Sable collecnon was one of che most comprehensive coken collecdons ee ever appear on
the martoct. The oodocben ranuged acruse most the rth anxkgch ceooury cohen wees of Grea Brin and rook nwo major anccdions asur fe years
to sci
Szauer did noe photograph his eekens when he published their descnpatons and the Nubbe cacaicg publishod a sample. Publishing chem here pro-
wet 2 visual record of a sigmisicant group of che picocs as well as giving a scnsc of another collecting direction for all of us who are Gscinaced by che
decades surpeunding the induserial ecedludon in Brean in che 19h and carly igch cenouncs.
Szaucr listed 246 varictics en his publicapon. Sesneqynine of them arc shown here aloo wath 41 addigonal proces he had aoquired The sddicional
Types an: deseribed in che co. The pices be ongainaty published arc described here bricthy based on che coken insclf and Svaucr’s original descrip-
noe, Ths greup cover the copper insucs around de lan: sSth and cart igth cencurics in a gencrally comprehensive fashice. Many of che other Svaucr
warictics arc an carlicr currency issues or were struck on worn silver shilings ar other saber coins. Regeretrabh. Szaucr noved 4 substanoal number of
tokens from the D&I 1 th centun provincial cohen sories char are nck represenced bere.
Se. q4b: Farthing sae copper. MLASLEY on obverse overstruck with lange 8S; CARTY on reverse. This soem @ be a combinasion of Swuuer 44a
and yy b. Ice abo cers an crample of D&I [ 344. 4 Dubtin farthing, with a DEAS ICY councermark. ‘This lamer picee ts abo cited by Macalescr,
Tnsh Trader's Tokens, mech t2y. Macalister’s reference was puistished by the Royal Irish Academy in ty3t and includes a scction of “Makeshift and
‘Slap’ Tokens” that covers some of these as well an other vancact. Svauec’s cirartona o¢ Macalisace arc inctuded in this listing. The referenec ioc is ap-
paronds rarc.
Sz. 55: Crconge TD] ipg7 2d “carne heeh” DP on bach sides, a Lange roserec an the obverc.
Sa 36. Anocher gz ad. OO an cach side.
Sz. 57. George IP Rec id. WT on both sides yorh an engrailed boeder around.
Sa. 38: Goonge WT rpg7 1d. 1D on che oth ursc, indenced with an cngmulod border. or the mos Part. countermarks arc on abyerses macher than re-
stree fool one side bs comnecrmurked Preamabhy, it should not matter which side et used but most poopie nor just ooilcctors: seem op anne co ob
verse first.
Sz. 39. Awom copper coin os moon, 1/2 size. S WILSONS in a cured linc, struck pict.
Sz 6c. Ceocge TV Insh ra. Aeli on the obverse.
Sz. 61 Goorge U1 Trish oad. CHRISTIAN COLE ALDICY in cweo Lincs on obverse.
Sz. 62. George OD Trish 22d O DTEADEN in an oblong undone with enggrailed border on cbvursc.
Sz. 6p Ceoorge I] Trish gad. T LY NES on obwerse.
Sz. 64 George U1 Irish 2d. Re DELARIOYD on obverse.
Se. 65 George 11 Ensh cack PLAM BELTON on the reversc.
Sa. 66; Groogge ILD Trish vad. R PARUAE: in ascrughe edged indent on revere.
Se. 67. George UF Trish p's 973. A sma suing shap struck er [1D in Large Serra; Je POLLARD below, al on ober.
Sz. 63. Googe 1] [reth pad. 1781. Similar chough TD) kes distinee
Se po. George (10 Irish asd, 8s. MeG RIPPIN in a curved tine around near the cdgx, obverse.
Sz. pt. Geonge IY [nsk aad, 82. Fe PTT ZF on obverse.
Sz. 72. George WT (rish wad. spp: Je PTT Ae? on vtrursc.
Se. 74 Goong TT Irish 22d, mat. Be DENNIS on obvernc.
Sz. 74. Worn halfpenny size oan,soken: RIEEN.A in larger unscrifed ope.
Se. 75. George UE Trish 42d 1782: RIS: incomplere serekes on obverse.
16
Sa. 7é. George Of Engtish y'sd: POOPPEY in larger gypc on reverse,
Sz. 77: George TH fish vad. ‘Te KELLY on obvene, Two cumpks, as abe nocod by Szauer in his publication. :
Sv 78. George 111 [rish oad 178. Te KELLY on otnerse.
Se. py. George WD Isish 2d, pz. DISON an otwermec.
Se. $e. George TH Irish vad: SeCODY on obverse.
Se. $2. Grooege [Irish yd. PT PERRY on otscrac.
Se. 88. George TT English y's. «A ina square indcne with sraight edges.
Si. yc. Croonge TET Enuglish ond: and another on a George HIT Irish (4d. a lange A and [. separaned by a fleur de ln,
Se. gz Crcorige T Fungdish y/2d) jit. a small DSC seruck as the bane of the portraic runcason.
Sz. y} Coorg TD) [rsh 1’, 1782: ED seruck on che obverse,
Sz. 9s George IL heavih worn yd. G [1 in Laryge scriffed lettcts.
Sz. y6: Groorge TTL Inpho cad. 178. (1D saruck an the ofscrse.
Ag. yz. Georg TH Vnglish y/2d rrqy. IR seruck in a stragghe edged indentation on the reverse.
Se. 98. Croorge I Jesh yd. p82. JA screck on the obvere.
Sz. gay. George TM Trish cad. ips: J 4 Ten obverse. “zauer cites twp pieces in his colboowan; both arc shawn:
Rx, too. Goonge TT English yd, rep J T on reverse,
Az. tor George IE Trish p/ad, pa: J Ton oboe. (Saucer apparcerty differcnciaoed here by beet coin macher chan by degen}
Sa. ron George UT Engtish 1/20 1743. Linge K on che pceorsc.
Siz. rot George ID Trish yd rg SO 66 on dhe reverse.
Sz. toy. Greoonge ITD Enggish yd: PDR ET in menogram on the cbwerse; 2 amali roscte on che reversc.
Sz. tua. George UD Irish pid. 786. large SS on obverse.
Riz. 13. Goenge TUT Eanytish ycd 1806, TIS nwo circkes above approamuung che numeral §: on rovers.
Sz. tnt, Croorge ITT Tngtish ¢7sd: Wel [on reverse.
Sz. tet: Gonnge HIT Trish y’sd: WT on reverse; the flan is boavily worn.
S208, Geange [English vid. Win an indentation thar conforms to the leer inchf, on obverse.
Sz. uy$. France, Lous XPV, Isard. SS. (Miacalisucr g5r>. Also an unrecorded cxampke on a French jeoon {Sz 174 var}.
Sz. 144. A small, out-of round copper disc. SS. Macalister g9y (An urvgular disc of copper. a tite smaller chan a Gcorgian half ponny.”:
Se. 148: George TI Irish v'gd. ON ETILL on obverse.
Sz. cpg. Farthing coker. py. PAT on obverse.
Nz t5c. Imirasion [rsh farthing, ru. SS on abverse. Abo an aleemate on a somewhar similar chourh Ses distinct peoce.
Se. up. Inreguilar bra disc. Large SS.
Sz. 132. Geogge 1 Irish yg. SS on obvone, Abo an alecmare 17244 [rsh 13d in Fine condicon.
Se. cap A near brass disc. nearly haled with a Large ¢ 1/2 and aamall 1D.
Sz. 162. George UI Irish yc 1-8y W * Ton ofc.
‘Svauce tangs 1733 through 220 arc all countermaris on silver insane.»
Nv. 225. George U1 English ad. sayz: BW RGAN BIRR on boch sides “one side shown bere).
Az. 126. George HID Trish 272d 1783. TJACKS on rocme.
Six 227. Goonge I Trish vad ic32. V THIGART on reverse.
Sz. 228. George TH Tesh c'ad, worn, Ofsversc a 227 not dluscraced:; ecverse: STIIRNAN,
Sz. 32g. George HT Trish vad, warm: JeW"SON. on obvere.
Sz. 23c. [Lalfpenny scac copper flan. SEASON, a Girock cron. AT (vertical: bolow,
Sz. 243: VD Lalfpanny size copper dan: £1 £8 on one side; £13 on other.
Sz. 2p DLalfpenny sare copper flan: Larue Can bosch sedes,
Sz. 23ga.b: [Halfpenny size copper dan: LA. om struck upside dian above; reverse JA semack eetoc, repr dnc: (Sauer describes 2352 as a singe pico
with the desdgn iisecd hore an the obverse and 239 as a singh picoc with the revore listed here. The desans are pardcularly disoncove.
Rs. ay, George IN English fad, i773: ID on che obs cre.
Sz. 237. George IT Trish a/2 az. PF in small near [caters on the obverse.
Sz. 238. Wiltiam and Man Urish 2d. 2694. Szauer describes this as 22, they also look like SS reversed; on obverac.
Se. 299: [akfpcany siac ween flan: lange S, 2 T on ips side (Sauer: of powable a crude crosa.
Se. oyu Geonge [1D Irish yd. tos. FS an obverse, S on reverse.
Se. 242. George HT [nish vga. tod. TE on obvorse.
Siz. 24. Vicoona bronze penny, 136} 2 crawned harp beowcen che lereers VR. che number 249 below,
“The remaining pices shown and described in dec puges of phoeos have boon numbed beginning with gor. They axcompanied the pieces Szaucr
used foe his lisorys and represcnt larer addidons co the scricy.!
Abe Davssorn July ne
Irish Countermarked Tokens from the research collection formed and published by Emil Szaver.
Published in Josh Nurnismtatics in three installments in 1g7o.
Seaunt gph
Svuuer 47
Nvauer 54
- Sauer sy ice eS Sanauer cir
Sauer 58
Seaucr 2 Sauber 64 Sune M4 Naaucr 65 Saauer 66
Sane 47 Sxaucr 68 Beara 7 Sxauecr v1 Sanuuer 72
18
Sauer 7 Sraucr 74 Seauer 75 Avant Sawacr >
Sauer 7p and Sauer = Snauer TR ond Seauer 5
Stuur Sz Sweuucr yo Svauct yc. vac Szaper go
SZ pS, Banuer 6 Nzanxt 97 Seaucr yk
Saaucr 4g SOUT as). terns: SZauT boc Sauer pc Senqucr ica
iF wy
19
Szauen oe Saber foxy Saauer i Sauer ny
Sauer tet Swquer ::7 RpAucr cra Raatuer cyl sarivty Sauer ry
Swat 14¢3 Sauer 18 Svaper ig Seauce iz2 Sader 3c vanete
Seauer 151 Sader 152 PeALUer oF Saar 255 Sauce ya
Sy aac x24 Swauer 227 Svabcr
Brauer 235
JO
Saacer 233
Svaukr 2353.b Sacre 238
SrQuer 242
Seaucr 22 Saaner 230
Seder sus
Suuuer 237 Svauer 238 Sauer 244
From here, on, the countummarks are on frish coins
or tokens, ‘Vhese were part of che Suauer group hur
his original article ended with variety 224. ‘lhe runy
bering begins arbitranily at yo:: there is no yt: that
Pitece was more appropriately idendibed with onc of
we Original listines,
Sxauer 243
Sitawecr 242
go. AG on Win TIT gon AR onf Gaerge 113 33. PE Tin parcially oy: Con Corey I Trish yrg. off) on Crone Hl
frie iad hg [rich ead nati” Frameson Cr U1] ugd. ceantcrtest Wei rgd line VPs
Trish 42d
yet, [CLARO cn Wim ILL Sauer go0. Koon re- Sear 38k. ie: ay Seaver 422. IL obey
jad tet ie oreo verec of Choe ILL dist gunmorry shelling. SSM nev Geo TT fash
tao gd VE: Muay aga Tine) vied ede
Sauer qu. 15 rev Sasser 31. J Xion Crass Suauer gs MALLOW & Senuer 35 Elon Sauce 34. Boon Geo UL
Gee HE Trish rt 2 Til Inish ei yd DURBAN on bingstceen sunmoncy shilling roth Drish wg VI
“heasaly worm hers vigd Belly a¥ 1
Sxaper yp Boor. Cree Sater yr 8 4 fonede! on Seeucr yay SS back- Seance 32c, T Ran Saauer 321. W Eon
{1 frah reo rgek €po00 WL spo Irish vig wards: un Cree [ais Dah Duplin iy Re Caco [IL opty ad ontt
heavily wor: Trinh ggd “sough? RL) taken abe F Theavily worm
‘Lhe neat proup of counter-
marks is on now-L[rish beats
bur the work and possibly the
manufacture may have an frish
link. [hese were part of the
Saauer Ion
Saauer 32g. MM fd on
Sesicr ae RES Svaucr 323. Varoous cur serouth ed shed fan ‘sd
LAD cin Sit Usd sive boomin seth ee
fed flan Sabor:
Misc ica. ITT on Mise reo. Urdwrred AK ee ae Sling 4, GKS. ca wom
Pronch ovpper, ‘liasd oo lard size jeton of iam aa Raue Chk: woneay 9, 853
SEA, Pap worn: Yerdinand af Prussia So
nN
Nw
English counrenmarked tokens from the Szauer group
Eng ior. REMY BCT Bang ron. CE LAG> Erg 23}. FRA WICK Bag me. DOU GIITY
onwemoeinericic eb ak WEL] on warm Geo THAS( ral neat eters WEST RAND anworn
ove ‘Gee UL ‘ Hf ch bane s 2d on-mt copper dite Geo HE gh Esue id
jen Lene ad
Drag ses. Flcn rpyy lenglish Eng toy. P on cours Teng ro&. hg vind, WR
serftie Meng wd ott?
yrend VF flor issue
yagd WT hast coin Ding oot. 13.8. on wom fg OY in fram:
rage Charms heel od
Kage. WTO Egon RODENSON ONT ORD
Kap icg, W&G LEEKS JOMINSOYN an et CUTLER ON WORN reg 120K
on ipgy red fox berth siden TICLE DCE Cavin Seer 254
Ling ny. Qhon ain coken
Eng ua. Gr STEVI
Thirmrengham 183 3d
23
Six New Varieties of Camac Tokens:
Dublin 32 Bis I, Dublin 37 Bis IV, Dublin 127 Bis,
Dublin 163 Bis, Dublin 189 Bis, & Dublin 212 Bis,
and a Few Corrections
Gregg A. Silvis
Harp with Six Strings.
1. Dublin 32 Bis
Obverse: As Dublin 32, 32 Bis (CTCJ, Vol. 11, #2, p. 23), and 145. This particular specimen is of sufficient sharpness to
show that the harp strings are truly mangled. Depending what one counts, there are six to nine strings. It is then little wonder
that Dalton & Hamer listed this obverse as Dublin 32 in the six string section and again as Dublin 145 in the nine string
section. They obviously got their strings crossed.
Reverse: As Dublin 74, 74 Bis (CTCJ, Vol. 14, #4, p. 19), and 77. Late die state as 74 Bis.
Edge: Plain.
Reverse Rotation: Normal.
Dublin 32 Bis IT
Harp with Six Strings.
2. Dublin 37 Bis IV
Obverse: As Dublin 37, 37 Bis (CTCJ, Vol. 9, #4, p. 26), and 37 Bis IZ (CTCIJ, Vol. 14, #3, p. 8). Late die state with
significant rust at the right base, at the right side of the harp and through IAMENT.
Reverse: Unlisted. FRENNY widely spaced. Top of ¥ below N.
Edge: No. |.
Reverse Rotation: 45° CCW.
Dublin 37 Bis IV
Harp with Eight Strings.
3. Dublin 127 Bis
Obverse: Unlisted, but very similar to Dublin 127. F of OF is high. Unlike Dublin 127, the foot does not touch Cc.
Reverse: As Dublin 78 Bis (CTCJ, Vol. 10, #3, p. 16).
Edge: No. 2.
Reverse Rotation: Normal.
Note: This is perhaps the same variety as the Dublin 127 Bis included in lot 391 of the March 12, 1958 Glendining sale.
— ae
Dublin 127 Bis
Harp with Ten Strings.
4. Dublin 163 Bis
Obverse: As Dublin 162 and 163. Later die state with break through face and shoulders of Hibernia and die rust at left side
and center of the base.
Reverse: Unlisted. Severely clashed. N of KYAN is high. The letters AMAC of the second CAMAC touch, with the final C
low.
Edge: No. 2.
Reverse Rotation: Normal.
Dublin 163 Bis
Variations of Name and Date.
5. Dublin 189 Bis
Obverse: As Dublin 189 and 190, but in a later die state.
Reverse: As Dublin 149 and 149 Bis. (See correction #3 below)
Edge: PAYABLE IN DUBLIN OR BALLMUBETGH.
Reverse Rotation: 25° CCW.
26
Dublin 189 Bis
Variations of Name and Date.
6. Dublin 212 Bis
Obverse: As Dublin 212. INOBERATED BY BARLIMENT 1792.
Reverse: Unlisted. A cypher JM Co. The only legend discernible, and barely at that, is HALF—ENNY. The / Co cypher
also appears on the reverses of Dublin 192, 193, and 194 as well as the Drogheda tokens.
Edge: Plain.
Reverse Rotation: 130° CW.
Dublin 212 Bis
27
Corrections to Previous Articles:
1. Dublin 78 Bis — Incorrect edge
(CTCIJ, Vol. 10, #3, p. 16)
The edge is listed as No. 1, but is actually No. 2. The author stated that “the AT is barely visible, but one can make out the
top of the T.” In examining a recently acquired second specimen, it has been determined that the purported AT was actually
a combination of a few edge nicks and wishful thinking on the part of the author.
2. Dublin 123 Bis — Reverse as Dublin 153
(CTCJ, Vol. 13, #1, p. 30-31)
The reverse is incorrectly described as unlisted. It is actually the same as the reverse of Dublin 153.
3. Dublin 139 Bis —Should be renumbered as Dublin 149 Bis.
(CTCJ, Vol. 14, #3, p. 12)
This token is the same variety as that which appeared in lot 1971 of the Spence III sale, DNW 70B: July 11, 2006. It was
therein described “obv. not listed, Dublin 149 rev.” and it is also illustrated. The author’s original description of the reverse
of the spurious Dublin 139 Bis as unlisted is incorrect; it is the same reverse as Dublin 149 (and the above 189 Bis) but in an
earlier die state. Given these facts, Dublin 139 Bis should be renumbered as Dublin 149 Bis. The discovery of this variety
should be credited to Peter Preston-Morley.
4. Dublin 164 Bis — Reverse as Dublin 171 Bis.
(CTCJ, Vol. 11, #4, p. 16)
The reverse is incorrectly described as unlisted. It is actually the same as the reverse of Dublin 171 Bis, illustrated on page
550 of Dalton & Hamer.
5. Obverse of Dublin 200 is not the same as 201.
Dalton & Hamer incorrectly describe Dublin 200 and 201 as having the same obverse. Dublin 200 has periods before and after
the date; Dublin 201 does not. Also, the harp strings on Dublin 200 are more perpendicular to the base than are those of Dublin
201. Jerry Bobbe graciously supplied an image of his Dublin 201 to make this comparison.
Dublin 200 Obverse
A Curmudgeon’s Copy of Conder’s Arrangement
By Harold Welch
A couple of years ago, I went to England to do research for The Virtuoso’s Arrangement, my
book on the classic literature of the British tokens of the 18" and 19" centuries. One of the
outstanding collections of token literature is held by the Guildhall Library in London. While
there I ran across a most interesting (and amusing) copy of Conder’s An Arrangement of
Provincial coins, Tokens and Medals. Unfortunately, the volume is not signed by the original
owner, but there are some clues that might allow the owner to be unmasked. As you will see,
David Dykes makes a strong case that the original owner was Samuel Birchall. What do you
think? I would love to hear from you. In my manuscript I describe the volume as follows:
1798 edition. Interleaved, in two volumes. Bound in brown quarter leather with raised bands,
gilt titles and maroon cloth boards. The binding is quite old. The original owner, apparently a
contemporary to Conder and a somewhat contrary fellow has copiously annotated the volumes
with neat additions and commentary, but, alas, no bookplate or ownership inscriptions. There is
the ink signature of a later owner, “J. H. Burn July 1846” clearly in a different hand. The
original owner leaves a clue as to his identity in that he has bound in “An exact List of the
Number of my Private Token, with the manner of their disposal.”
a. Oxact Lert of He Ptemder of me
nivale Zohere, Wilk Ike swarner olka ata;
7
A | Avoce dsespece. TAMAS EL. the pace {
a elon” prere Bright ool deanled 1
: a3 Soc ftlass | an. far. ~2 Pree Ag: Jie
4 Be 2, gS crag, Priunte Famauay, Peong.?. °
-— Maricache ; Mar clingthars Narrvolell Smee
[| tharfe A ijher Fama TE it fang Sealy tt
aan awe CE Maratng wt AO on Pemeny ansen
~- ie — Sharhe Caventy wel nee
40) wann Qo . Mixon. lip ane a.
TD wr le a Burtugh Cam brie Prey wen
wn A Weigh: AKAD Ha wa
44| Mir Pye : Pyes Br murgfam Afory
Ra AE Weslra a 9 fb. :
0 Mum phzy Se ath :
a fic Shidlmuare | fax the tase of Aus press
“Me fi: Chater afrlend of 1° SAialm ores.
Br Celehe. | A omer. fran? pare oidaened
4
The record of distribution isn’t listed past the twentieth piece, but the numbering extends to at
least #26, so we know something of the mintage of the private token. We also know that he is
not W. Millar, M. Young, Hancock, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Pye, Mr. Western, Mr. Humphry, Mr.
Skidmore, Mr.Chater, Miss Banks or poor Mr. Welch whom our mystery man labels, “a mere
fraud”. As the Thomas Welch tokens are my favorite and I have, for no other reason than it
pleases me, decided that he is my direct ancestor, this really hurts! Though it is marked over, the
first piece seems to say “Bronzed Unique”. Also bound in is a closely written four-page review
of Conder’s work. Our cranky correspondent initially allows, “This, certainly is by far the most
29
compleat publication of the kind published,” but continues, “in some points, I must confefs, I
differ from Mr. Conder. In the first place, in arranging the Coins by Edge; which certainly is far
from a good plan . . .” After providing several examples of Conder’s folly he really begins to
warm to his subject, “In the next place, when describing a coin of the same device with a few
exceptions to the one preceding it, he (Conder) says, “The same as last differently executed.”
What guide can this be to a person in collecting without the difference stated? It would have
been better to have omitted it altogether, than to give it in so imperfect a manner.” “Thirdly, I
very much differ from him in arranging the pieces according to the Reverse, which certainly is as
injudicious as by the edge . . .” Now he takes off the gloves, “... repetitions similar to this occur
in other instances, merely on the excuse that the imprefsions are on thicker Copper & profefs on
the edge to be Penny Tokens . . . Their fabrication is peculiarly contemptible & they are entirely
independent of the principles of the Provincial Halfpence. What excuse Mr. C. can find for this
insertion, I am at a loss to conjecture, but this I know, if they are arranged with the rest of the
Provincials, a disgrace is instantly stamped on the cabinet.” The invective continues, but you get
the idea. Written in the margin on the page that Conder lists the tokens of Thomas Spence is the
underlined notation, “The execution of these is so vile, that the mention of them is a disgrace to
this work.” The annotator is clearly a knowledgeable numismatist and many of his criticisms,
while harsh, are justified. Throughout he has neatly expanded upon Conder’s “Arrangement”,
cataloging many pieces either not noticed by Mr. Conder or struck subsequent to the publication
of his work. An example:
RENFEW-SHIRE.
PAISLEY.
PENNY SIZE.
1. O. A view of an Ancient Building “Abbey-Church” Ex. Founded (Circiter) 1160.”
R. An interior view of a Church “Interior of the Abbey Church as Repaired in its Original
stile A.D. 1788.”
+ It is to be regretted that a piece so well executed as the present should have been struck off
without the least mention of the name of the Church which form its elements. Such an error as
this is a disgrace to any engraver.
[As we used to say in Missouri, “That guy would complain about being hung with a new rope!”
On February 09, 2007 I sent the following message and some scans of this copy to David Dykes:
Hello David,
Recently, I had occasion to read again your article concerning R. Y. fa frequent
correspondent to the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ on the subject of tokens] and Robert Hay from
The British Numismatic Journal (1997). R. Y.'s rants [concerning the method of arrangement of
token catalogues and against the political pieces] seemed familiar. I am attaching my
description (taken from my work-in-progress, The Virtuoso’s Arrangement) of a copy of 'Conder'
which is held by the Guildhall Library in London. I wonder if it might possibly be Hay's copy.
You mention in your article that you possess Hay's copies of 'Birchall' and 'Pye'. Would you
compare the handwriting from the Guildhall's 'Conder' with your samples of Hay's handwriting?
If they match, I think it would strengthen (if not quite proving) Hay's alternate identity. If not, I
30
would be most interested in any conjecture of yours concerning the original owner of the
Guildhall's 'Conder'. Thanks for any help that you can provide.
Kind regards,
Harold Welch
Dear Harold,
I've now had a chance of looking at your attachments and comparing the handwriting with
that in my copies of Hay's 'Birchall'(1796), 'Pye' (1795) and 'Pye' (1801). The writing is not
dissimilar but I do not think it is by the same hand so I would be inclined to rule out Hay.
Bearing in mind that the Guildhall 'Conder' was owned by Burn and that his collection was
auctioned by Puttick and Simpson together with Birchall's collection (apparently ‘unopened’
until the sale) in 1869 I wonder whether the 'Conder' was Birchall's. He at least issued a private
token which Hay did not. /unless Hay considered the Buxton token as his private issue]
There is another intriguing clue in the list of exchanges, i.e. the reference to Skidmore - 'for the
use of his press' and two points occur to me. Pye (1801) tells us that Wyon was the Birchall die-
sinker but he does not specify a manufacturer of the private token. Now Wyon struck the original
Skidmore halfpenny, also dated 1795, and I wonder whether Skidmore also struck the Birchall
piece. As you know there are a lot of 'wrong-edged' Birchall pieces to which Birchall made no
reference in his catalogue and I suspect these were produced by the manufacturer to create
rarities - a manoeuvre not untypical Skidmore but not one would expect from a ‘respectable
Quaker'.
In short, I am fairly certain your annotator isn't Hay but it could well be Birchall. I have
checked the list of private token issuers in my copy of Sharp (‘Introduction’, p. iv) and cannot at
present think that it can be anyone else.
Best wishes, si
David Dykes.
Jacob Henry Burn (c.1793-1869) was a bookseller and the author (along with Henry Beaufoy) of
“A Descriptive Catalogue of the London Traders, Tavern and Coffee-House Tokens Current in
the Seventeenth Century” [London] 1853. The British library has a 13 page publication of
Burn's titled, “Scarce Early Coin-Sale Catalogues, now on sale, at the prices affixed by J. 7.
Burn, etc.” 1844. Perhaps Burn has a claim as the first numismatic literature dealer! Burn’s
collection was sold at auction by Puttick & Simpson 20 July 1869. The collection offered tn the
sale along with Burn’s was that of the late Samuel Birchall of Leeds.
Samuel Birchall was, of course, the author of one of the earliest token works, “A Descriptive List
Of Provincial Copper Coins”. A linen draper by trade Birchall was also an industrious
naturalist and antiquary. He issued the Leeds Commercial Halfpennies (D&H 26-28). In their
Corrigenda, Dalton and Hamer list 113 different edges for Yorkshire 28! Birchall’s collection
was auctioned 20 July, 1869 by the firm of Puttick and Simpson. It is noted on page 13 of the
sale that, “Mr. Birchall died in 1814, and until his collection was examined for the purpose of
this sale, most of the packages into which he had formed the tokens had never been opened since
his death.”
Continued on page 11
31
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The introductory page of the “Curmudgeon Copy”
32
Directory of Club Officers and Appointees
President
Larry Gaye
P.O. Box 1456
Beaverton, OR 97008
(503) 579-6416
Editor, Vice President USA and Librarian
Harold Welch
655 Parkwood Circle
Saint Paul MN 55127
[651] 429-0997 tokenmann@aol.com
Vice President International
Alan Judd
P.O. Box 19 Beeston Notts
NG9 2NE
England
MICOBWRIGHT @aol.com
Treasurer
Scott Loos
PO Box 2210
North Bend WA 98045
[425] 831-8789
scottloos@msn.com
Publisher and Board Member
Dr. Gary Sriro
gsriro@gmail.com
Membership
Rachel Irish
101 W. Prairie Center #323
Hayden ID 83835
mrlrishS@adelphia.net
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
NUMBER LOCATION
563 David Gordon Cloudcroft, NM
WELCOME BACK
207 Richard Margolis Teaneck, NJ
504 John E. Fisher Abington, PA
THE TOKEN EXCHANGE AND MART
i :
f
we
é
Hl
OUR RULES: CTCC members, in good standing, are cordially invited to dispatch their articles
and advertisements to the CTCC editor for publication in the JOURNAL. Articles are always
needed and appreciated. Articles do not have to be camera ready, but I appreciate it when they
are. Articles are always published free of charge for the benefit of the membership.
Advertisements are needed and appreciated just as much. Ads up to twelve lines are FREE! Full-
page ads are $100.00; one half-page ads are $50.00. Ads larger than the free twelve lines must
be camera ready. All paid ads must be paid for when submitted; thus, eliminating the
possibility of confusion and the need for costly, unnecessary, and time-consuming billings and
follow up. Ads submitted without full payment will not be accepted or published. Ads or articles
may be either accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor. Only members can participate
in the journal or other Club activities. The Club rules are designed to be simple and few, please
comply with them. The deadline for the Winter 2010 issue is November 1, 2010. Journals are
issued quarterly. Your articles and ads must be sent to the editor, Harold Welch 655 Parkwood
Circle, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127 (tokenmann@aol.com). The only requirement for
membership is the payment of an annual membership fee. You will be billed again after you
have received four issues of the journal. The "Conder" Token Collector's Club reserves the right
to accept or reject (without explanation) any application for membership. The “Conder” Token
Collector's Club, reserves the right to revise these rules at any time in accordance with our by-
laws. ANNUAL DUES: $25.00 U.S. Membership - £20 U.K Membership.-_ $35 Non U.S. or
U.K.Membership.
NOTICE: The “Conder” Token Collector’s Club, publisher of The “Conder” Token Collector’s
Journal, assumes no responsibility or liability for advertisements or articles published in the
journal. No party shall have recourse against the “Conder” Token Collector’s Club, or it’s
officers, officials or appointees for any reason associated with the publication of its journal. All
transactions arising from or relating to advertisements in The “Conder” Token Collector's Club
Journal are strictly between the parties to the transaction. Complaints concerning advertisers or
respondents should be directed to the president of the “Conder” Token Collector's Club. Valid
complaints can result in termination of membership and/or advertising privileges.
34
Free Advertisements
These Ads, 12 lines or less, are free for CTCC members. Send yours to:
Harold Welch 655 Parkwood Circle Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
tokenmann@aol.com
REKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKkKkkik
COLLECTABLE CIRCULATED CONDER TOKENS
From My Personal Collection Generally F+ to VF
Six different attributed for $99 U.S. Postage paid
Multiple lots available — no duplicates
KEE
Satisfaction guaranteed — returnable as a group
KKK
Send check or money order to: Michael Grogan
6501 Middleburg Court — Mobile AL 36608
mngrogan@comcast.net
KRRKKEKEKEKEE KEKE KER EEE ERE KKK ER RRR R RE RRR RRR RR RRR RRR KKK RR RRR RRR ERE RR RRR RRR RRR RRR RRR
M. Monarch, Esq., Numismatist
CTCC# 4, EAC#184, ANA LM1059
Hopelessly addicted to “Conders” for nearly thirty years. I specialize in beautiful
condition, rarities and spectacular die states; always keen to buy, sell, or trade the series.
Jerry Bobbe Email jbobbe@comcast.net
PO Box 25817 Tel: 503 626 1075
Portland, OR, 97298
KKK KKK KKK KK eK IK HK HK HK KK IKK KKK KKK KK RRR KK KKK KEK KKK KEK EK ERK KKK KEK KEKE KEKER
Wanted!
Hampshire tokens and medallions from all periods.
Books by Pye 1801 and after, and Davis & Waters 1922.
Michael Knight, 30c Malvern Road, Southsea, Hants, PO5 2NA, United Kingdom
mikeknight@tinyworld.co.uk
SERIOUS COLLECTOR OF SERIOUSLY ODD THINGS!
I am interested in purchasing for my collection varieties that I lack in the areas of:
¢ Off-Metal Conder Tokens (silver, white metal, brass, lead, gilt) and Conder Token Errors.
¢ Evasion Halfpennies and Farthings.
« US. Colonial Coinage.
¢ French Colonies Coinage for use in North America.
¢ Blacksmith tokens.
¢ Counterfeit British and Irish Halfpence and Farthings.
Highest prices paid for things I need, and immediate payment — no purchase too large or too small! If you have
anything in these areas for sale, please contact me!
Jeff Rock, Box 3447, San Diego, CA 92163. (619) 280-6737. E-mail: RosaAmLtd@aol.com
35
BILL McKIVOR’S COPPER CORNER
Fair prices, fast service. Lists sent snail mail or E-mail. See large ad inside cover.
17", 18" and 19" century British tokens, Hard Times tokens, Civil war items.
(206) 244-8345 Satisfaction Guaranteed Always. POB 46135 Seattle, WA 98146
BUYING AND SELLING----15 YEARS
BNS--ANA—C-4---EAC---PNNA---SNS---MCA----AND CTCC3#3.
WEBSITE---- www.thecoppercorner.com E-MAIL Copperman@Thecoppercorner.com
CTCC Back Issues for Sale!
The club has a very limited supply of some back issues of The CTCC Journal.
They are being offered at $5.00 each ppd.
Available issues: 5, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 54 onward.
Please don’t send payment with your order, you will receive a bill with your journals.
Send inquiries to:
Harold Welch 655 Parkwood Circle, St. Paul, MN 55127
(651) 429-0997 e-mail: tokenmann@aol.com
Hk tek Heke ke tek eH KKK RE KR RRR KERR RK KERR ER ERK RRR RERK ERK KERR RRR RK KERKEK RRR ERR KEKE KRKREEEK
164 PAGE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE
The latest edition of our catalogue of numismatic items for sale (that has been issued regularly for 32 years) is
now ready. It includes thousands of British tokens as well as commemorative medals and coins from all over
the world. The catalogue is free on request, but please include $2 to cover airmail postage when applying to
the address below (with apologies for it's un-American length).
Whitmore, CTCC #264 Teynham Lodge Chase Road, Colwall Malvern
Wores. NMI3 6DT England
KRKEREKREEEREREREERERERKERERREREREEREEREREREREEREREREREREEERERERERREREREREREREEREE
I Need You!!!
To let me know about your classic token literature. Several members have answered my
appeals for information about their Pre WWII token books. Thanks to those kind folks.
However, if my book in progress, The Virtuoso’s Arrangement, is to be anywhere near
complete, I need more members to step forward to help. If you own any original books on
British tokens of the 18th and 19th centuries, I really need to hear from you. Does your
book have a past ownership inscription? Perhaps it has annotations or letters or other
ephemera laid in. If it is a numbered edition, which copy is it? I will give you credit or
keep you anonymous - whatever you prefer. Thanks for your help!
Harold Welch (651) 429-0997 tokenmann@aol.com
655 Parkwood Circle St. Paul, MN 55127
36
LARGE SELECTION OF CHOICE CONDER TOKENS
Hello to everyone! I have a large selection, mostly XF to Choice BU as well as nice,
inexpensive VFs. I have 1,000 other world and U.S. tokens and medals, including many
choice French and British medals of the Napoleon era and hundreds of German medals. I
take tables at ANA, NYINC, CICF, Baltimore, and White Plains.
Donald Young CTCC #182
P.O. BOX 457, FDR STATION, NEW YORK, NY 10150;
(212) 593-0010; numiscribe@aol.com
Sir Original Productions - EAC/CTCC — Conders For Sale — All Prices in USD
Devon | Exeter Near Ch Brown Unc (RR) 825
Gloucestershire 21 Gem PL Unc Near full red (R) 800
Middx 7 Superb Bronzed Proof (R) 1450
Middx 302 Forster’s Ch Golden Brown Une 235
Middx 464 Presbury’s 36 struck Ch Toned PL Unc 950
Middx 921 Williamss’ Struck OC with highly dished reverse Ch Unc obv spot (RR) 995
Norfolk 2 Lynn Gem Une Glens 11/12/99:547 (RR) 1850
Suffolk 14 V Ch PL Unc (R) 625
Worcester 6 (Cu) Ch Toned Unc 60 struck (R) 800
York 28 Birchall’s Ch Toned PL Unc Ex Spingarn FPL 2001:450 (R) 475
Satisfaction Guaranteed — Contact allenbennett@omniglobal.net
TONY FEIN - PROFESSIONAL NUMISMATIST
Medieval, Modern Coins, Hammered Coinage and Ancients
VISIT MY WEB STORE www.vcoins.com/worlditonyfein Photos in full color
Click on "TOKENS & MEDALS"
New items are added to my stores daily.
1AM ALSO BUYING ALL BETTER COINS & COLLECTIONS
Please call or write, or ship with your price, for my generous offer.
Please include a phone number or e-mail address, it will be worthwhile!
You can see me at the Baltimore Coin Show, three times a year.
Tony Fein CTCC#278 PO Box 17672 Clearwater, FL 33762-0672
Phone (727) 536-7475 e-mail tonyfein@aol.com
ABC Coins and Tokens
We specialise in Conder Tokens and also stock a wide range of hammered and milled Scottish,
British and World coins, and numismatic books. All our Conders are fully illustrated and written
up on our web site so that you can buy with confidence.
Contact David Stuart at:
Alnwick British and Colonial Coins and Tokens
P. O. Box 52, Alnwick, Northumberland
NE66 1YE United Kingdom
Website : www.abccoinsandtokens.com
E-mail :d-stuart@d-stuart.demon.co.uk
Telephone : 44[0] 1665 603851
37
RR KR CR RR CCR RRR CR ORR EE RK AE
An interesting selection of 18th century British Tokens
plus some Regal & Colonial Coins and a few Odds and Ends
Many tokens currently listed on our web site and inventory is updated frequently.
Please take a look ~ comments and commentary welcome.
Always in the market to buy ~ contact me at your convenience.
Gary Groll CTCC~EAC~C4~ANA
906 Taxus Dr., Suite 203 Odenton, MD 21113
443.223.0399 ~ gary@grollcoins.com ~ www.grollcoins.com
SOOO SOOO OOO GAO GA a a a a ok ok kook kk a 2k ak 2k ok 2k ok 2k ok ok a ok 2k 2k
PLACE YOUR FREE AD HERE IN THE NEXT ISSUE
38
London, Wednesday, October 6th 2010, 10 AM
The Important Collection of 18th Century Tokens
formed by the late Robinson S. Brown Jr (Part IT)
and other properties
The Important David Griffiths
Reference Library of Token Literature
This auction, in the week following the COINEX show in London, features the Middlesex
tokens from the Brown collection, as well as tokens from the specialist collections formed by
the late Ermest Danson and the late David Magnay, and 18th century tokens from the
collection formed by Neil Beaton.
The Griffiths Library sale represents the most important dispersal of token books by public
auction in recent times and includes distinguished annotated volumes once owned by Dalton,
Hamer, Davis, Waters and many other luminaries.
Our expertise in Conders and British trade tokens dates back to the 1960s and we've been
auctioning tokens of all types since 1993. For further information or to consign material,
please contact Peter Preston-Morley.
16 Bolton Street Mayfair
London Wid 8BQ England
Telephone 44 20 7016 1700
Fax 44 20 7016 1799
Email coinsédnw.co.uk
39
AUCTION 29
DECEMBER 2010
If ven bid in Auction 28. you will receive our
fully ilhustraced color catalog later chis fall. If vou
want te be sinc vou are sd on car aering paper-
and-ink mail list. crail us or drop us a note.
“Davisgsons
Ltd.
PO) Box 333
Allan Davissun. URL. Cold Spring, MN 30320-0323
PAC agg. ANA, ANS. Reval NS. Deitch NS. CNCCLS poses jays o ag br PAN p10-d85-8636
email: coinsacdat sais Mee
—
40
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